PRATTVILLE — Firefighters battling the Chips Fire on the ground and in the sky were able to take advantage of improved weather conditions this afternoon.

Crews made progress on containing the fire after conditions improved by about 3 p.m., according to interagency information officer John Daugherty. Three heavy helicopters — grounded since Thursday due to smoke — resumed work, dropping water to help ground crews.

Containment of the fire that started July 29 northwest of Belden improved to 34 percent, as of this evening. Containment was at 20 percent Thursday.

The fire grew in size to 44,343 acres — a slight, 1.4 percent increase from Thursday.

Crews and bulldozers continued working to build control lines in the Clear Creek drainage southeast of the Butt Valley Reservoir. Ever since the fire skirted south around the reservoir and into the drainage Thursday, crews have worked to keep the blaze from spreading to the east into Seneca, Canyon Dam and the Big Meadows subdivision.

Further south, crews conducted a direct attack on a 15-acre spot fire in the Red Hill area, Daugherty said. Crews had mopped up a spot fire at Red Hill on Wednesday.

Along the northern front of the fire, lines remained secured along Humbug Road and a control line was completed from the Yellow Creek Campground to the western shore of Butt Lake.

No new injuries were reported among the 1,154 people fighting the fire. Ten had been injured through Thursday.

While the weather cooperated Friday afternoon, Daugherty said the forecast called for a monsoonal weather pattern possibly bringing overnight thunderstorms. If storms develop, there could be rain, gusty winds and lightning — elements that could exacerbate the situation.

There was no change to the roads and areas restricted by the fire. About 940 structures threatened by the fire are in Lake Almanor West, Almanor, Prattville, the Big Meadows subdivision, Canyondam, Belden, Rush Creek, Seneca, and along Caribou Road.

A community meeting was set for Friday evening in Lake Almanor West to update residents affected by the fire.

Communities west of the fire, including Paradise, Jarbo Gap and Concow, aren't threatened at this time.